Baltimore, Maryland – Veteran umpire Ángel Hernández, widely known for his polarizing presence on the baseball field, has officially announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after three decades in the sport. The decision comes after two weeks of negotiations between Hernández and MLB, culminating in an agreement reached over the weekend.
In a statement to USA TODAY Sports, Hernández reflected on his career, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to live out his childhood dream of umpiring at the professional level since 1991. The 62-year-old umpire cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for his retirement.
Hernandez’s final game as a home-plate umpire took place on May 9, during the Chicago White Sox’s victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Following his departure, Jacob Metz assumed his position on the crew, marking the end of Hernández’s controversial tenure in MLB.
Throughout his career, Hernández faced scrutiny and backlash, including a racial discrimination lawsuit against MLB in 2017. Despite his legal challenges, the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the dismissal of the lawsuit, citing MLB’s evidence of promotion rates among umpires.
As a Cuban-American, Hernández started his umpiring journey in the Florida State League at the age of 20, eventually earning a full-time MLB umpire position in 1993. Despite positive changes in the baseball industry promoting diversity, Hernández faced criticism from players and managers who labeled him as one of the game’s worst umpires in recent years.
Criticism of Hernández reached a peak in April 2024 when he faced backlash on social media for missed calls during a game between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. The veteran umpire’s departure from the sport brings an end to a career marred by controversy and public scrutiny.
Now that Hernández has retired, MLB will move forward without one of its most divisive figures, allowing the sport to evolve beyond the challenges and controversies associated with his tenure.